Supporting Ethical Behaviour

Our goal is to CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS ETHICAL CHOICES. We want to stress being proactive rather than being reactive as we strive to give our sailors the tools to make positive choices.

All of us – including Club Committees, Coaches and Parents should WORK TOGETHER AND WITH JUNIOR SAILORS to accomplish this goal.

We hope that the SUGGESTIONS below will prove helpful.

1 GIVE YOUR SAILORS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO HELP THEM MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES.

2. ENCOURAGE A FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN OUTCOME; SEPARATE THE PERFORMER FROM THE PERFORMANCE; HELP SAILORS SET REALISTIC GOALS/EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES.

3. USE THE YNZ ETHICS GUIDELINES POSTER AS A CENTREPIECE FOR YOUR PROGRAMME PLANNING.

GUIDELINE #1:

“Respected sailors always know and abide by the Racing Rules. They promptly take a penalty or retire when they know they broke a rule or file a protest when appropriate.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #1:

• Include rules instruction in your coaching programme.
• Introduce a “rule of the week” - at age and skill appropriate levels.
• Include penalty turns as part of the on-the-water training.
• Set up on-the-water drills that will create rules situations (.i.e. rules that apply at mark roundings).
• Invite a local judge to help with Rule 42 interpretations and mock protests.
• Have sailors serve as arbitrators.
• Brainstorm other ideas for improving sailors’ knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing and the protest processes.

GUIDELINE #2:

“Respected sailors always obey event rules on and off the water, including club rules.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #2:

• Before each regatta go to the regatta website for the regatta’s “Notice of Race”.
• Review these and other regatta regulations with the sailors who will be attending the regatta.
• Make it clear to sailors that they represent not only themselves but also their club/programme and that their club/programme expects positive representation.

GUIDELINE # 3:

“Respected sailors are always organised, prepared, and responsible for their own equipment.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #3:

• Before the sailing season begins have a rigging day and check-in each boat that will be used in your coaching programme.
• Be sure that all gear, including the sailor’s life jacket is clearly and indelibly labelled.
• Check each boat to be sure it has the required safety equipment. Make this a condition of participation.
• Strongly encourage sailors and their parents to label all other personal belongings.
• Prepare a regatta checklist for each boat class. This list of necessary boat and personal gear will help sailors get organised for a regatta.

GUIDELINE # 4:

“Respected sailors always show respect to fellow sailors and those helping to run regattas and programmes.”

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING SAILORS TO FOLLOW GUIDELINE #4:

• Make RESPECT a major part of what you do.
• Develop ways for sailors to help other sailors and make that a part of the programme culture. (i.e. Have 4 Opti sailors work together to remove an Opti from its rack and launch it.)
• Teach strategies for expressing concerns in a positive way.
• Make it clear to parents, instructors, committee people, sailors, and others who are involved with the junior sailors that RESPECTFUL behaviour is expected from everyone.
• Remember that young people learn more from what they observe than from what they are told.

REVIEW THE ETHICS GUIDELINES THAT SPELL OUT WHAT “RESPECTED SAILORS NEVER DO”.

BE SURE THE SAILORS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE AT THE COACHING LEVEL, THE REGATTA LEVEL, THE CLUB LEVEL AND EVEN, POSSIBLY, THE NATIONAL LEVEL IF THEY:

1. Swear at, intimidate or harass anyone, including team mates, on or off the water.

2. Steal or borrow, without permission, anything that does not belong to them.

3. Break laws related to alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs.